'Artists' exhibit explores landscape
Campus Times
February 14, 1997
"Nature Redux: Photographs by Ten Artists" opened on Feb.
10 and will run through March 21 in the Harris Art Gallery. It features
photographs by artists that explore issues of land use and imaging of the
landscape motif. Ian Scali, art studio manager, paints out the attachment
brackets under "In Another World," a photograph by Anthony Hernandez.
Nature Redux, a contemporary photography exhibition, is on display in
the Harris Art Gallery until March 21.
The exhibit features photographs by 10 Los Angeles artists: John Baldessari,
Uta Barth, Cindy Bernard, Laurie Brown, Ray Carofano, Anthony Hernandez,
Charles Leavitt, William Leavitt, Richard Misrach and Christopher Williams.
It is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Created by Eve Rappoport, director of visual arts at the Santa Barbara
County Arts Commission, the exhibition has been organized in conjunction
with the Santa Barbara Museum's "Art's A Painter's Paradise: Artists
and the California Landscape."
Rappoport heard that a new gallery had been opened at the University
of La Verne, so she contacted Ruth Trotter, associate professor of art,
and after deciding the space was a great area to hold the exhibit, asked
if she was interested in presenting Nature Redux. Trotter agreed because
she considers it a strong show with quite notable artists.
"Each artist has a very substantial exhibition record and many
have had their work exhibited in museums and shows," Trotter said.
Rappoport selected the artists based on recommendations and visiting
galleries where some of their work was shown. The exhibit took approximately
two months to organize.
Said Rappoport, "Each artist has quite a bit of experience difference.
John Baldessari is internationally known, and others are more local."
Rappoport selected over 30 photographs which range in value from $20,000
to $350,000, and explore notions of the natural landscape. The work includes
concepts of reverence for nature, man's exploitation of nature and the relationship
between film and landscape.
"This past fall there's been a series of exhibits related to landscape.
A number of other venues had decided to get involved with landscape. I wanted
to broaden what's being seen. Most photographs are romantic, idealized and
pretty. I wanted a more realistic, conceptual and less traditional look,"
added Rappoport.
"The artists make images that take a partial sort of conceptual
view of landscape. They use contemporary photography, as opposed to documentary
or journalism photography," said Trotter.
Nature Redux is a non-profit exhibit that artists participate in for
the sake of being in the show Although the photographs are not being sold
at the exhibit, each artist is represented by a dealer.
"We are interested in the artistic value and don't really like
to draw attention to the price," Trotter said.
Prior to the exhibit, during installation, Rappoport received a lot
of good feedback. Monday was the opening day of Nature Redux and the response
from the public was positive, according to Rappoport.
"Photography is an easy show for people to like. One can just look
at a photograph and relate to it," said Rappoport.
A reception for the artists will be held Feb. 15 from 5-7 p.m., although
not all of the artists will be present. Admission is free and the the event
is open to the public.